Gondola end straightener



June 14, 1960 J. F. PLASTER 2,940,500

. GONDOLA END STRAIGHTENER Filed Deo.rl, 1955 INVENTOR JAMES F. PLASTER BY QJAM ATTORNEYS United States Patent GONDOLA END STRAIGHTENER James F. Plaster, El Reno, Okla.

Filed Dec. 1, 1955, Ser. No. 550,408

1 Claim. (Cl. 153-48) This invention resides in the field of devices for straightening the ends of freight cars and the like for use on the railroad and is a simplified and improved form of end straightener which is very inexpensive to manufacture and simple to operate.

A primary object of my invention is a new and improved form of end straightener for gondolas, freight cars, box cars and the like which can be operated by a single man.

Another object is a device of the above type which can be manipulated by either a fork lift truck or a crane as the motive force or source of energy.

Another object is a device of the above type which is constructed to be connected to the couple normally found on a freight car.

Another object is a device of the above type which can be rapidly operated to straighten as many as six to seven steel car ends in an hour.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my new and improved end straightener applied to a conventional car;

Figure 2 is a side view of the end straightener;

Figure 3 is an end view of the boom of the straightener;

Figure 4 is a top view of a push bar; and

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4.

In Figure 1 my end straightener has been indicated generally at attached to the conventional freight car or gondola 12, the details of which would form no part of the present invention, and it should be understood that the device can be used on various other types of cars. The end straightener includes an elongated boom 14 having a generally upright stanchion 16 welded in a generally central position on the boom and disposed generally at right angles and secured by a suitable brace 18, if desired. The inner end of the boom carries a knuckle 20 which is adapted to be connected to the conventional knuckle 22 on the end of the car. A push bar 24 is pivotally connected generally at the upper end of the stanchion as at 26, and an upright bar or rod 28, connected at the boom at 30, has a suitable opening 32 at its upper end. This bar 28 is positioned generally at the center of the entire device so that it can be carried from one car to another by a crane.

The carrying bar straddles both sides 'of the push bar, and a diagonal brace 34 extending from the upper end of the stanchion is connected to the carrying bar by suitable struts 36. A pulley or guide 38 is located at the outer end of the brace so that a chain 40 can be guided between a universal hand brake 42 mounted on a suitable post 44. The other end of the chain is connected to a suitable bracket 46 toward the outer end of the push bar. A guide or roller 48 on the brake post is also used to bring the chain into the hand brake at a suitable angle.

The push bar, shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5, has a cross piece 50 at its outer end, which is generally Patented June 14, 1960 ice round in cross section and suitably braced by webbing 52. The sides of the push bar can also be reinforced by flat iron strips 54.

A plate 56 is secured to the outer end of the boom and has an eye 58 for connection to a crane hook 60 or the like. The lower surface 62 of the boom at its outer end is generally clear and unencumbered by braces or projections so that a fork lift truck can be used to raise and lower the outer end. A cross bar 64 is welded or otherwise suitably secured at right angles to the boom so that the assembly will sit up right when not in use.

In Figure 1 a chain 66 is looped around the coupler knuckles and fastened together with a hook or the like to prevent the device from slipping upward and coming disconnected when pressure is applied. Also any suitable bracket or the like could be used for this purpose.

The use, operation and function of my invention are as follows:

The device can be carried from one car to another by a suitable crane hook passed through the opening 32 in the top of the upright bar 28 which is positioned generally in the center of gravity of the entire device so that it is balanced. The device is first placed at the end of the car with the knuckle 20 over the knuckle 22 which is closed. They are coupled together by lowering the knuckle 20 into the closed knuckle on the end of the car. The crane then lowers the device until the outer end rests on the ground while the front end is held by the connection between the knuckles. The crane hook could then be passed from the upright bar and shifted to the opening 58 in the end plate. The push bar is pivoted through a plurality of positions by the hand brake with the crane raising and lowering the outer end of the boom between each position of the push bar. For example, the push bar could be positioned in its most depressed position and walked up a step at a time as the outer end of the boomis oscillated. By this procedure the end of the car is returned to its original contour, and the front end of the straightener is held firm by its connection to the couple 22 on the car.

The device is extremely simple and very inexpensive to manufacture. It can be easily operated by one man and the entire project of straightening the end of a car can be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. I have also found that I can straighten as many as six to seven steel car ends in an hour, and the unit takes very little space between adjacent cars. It should also be noted that the device involves no hazards for the operator as only one man is required in addition to the crane operator. The outer end of the bar is smooth and unencumbered by braces or projections so that if a crane is not available, a fork lift truck can be used to raise and lower the outer end of the boom.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that suitable modifications, changes, substitutions and alterations can be made. For example, the chain is not the only form of flexible connection that can be used between the boom or push bar and hand brake. Also, I have designated the device 42 as a universal geared hand brake, and it should be understood that any suitable geared hand brake or rachet device could be used to raise and lower the push bar. With this and other obvious changes in mind, I wish that my invention be unrestricted except as by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a device for straightening the ends of freight cars and the like, an elongated boom, means on one end of the boom for releasably connecting it to the coupling on a freight car, a stanchion rigidly mounted on the boom disposed generally at right angles to it and adapted to be disposed generally upright when the boom is connected to the coupling on a freight car, the stanchion being positioned between the ends'of'the boom and in spaced relation to the releasable connecting means so as to be in spaced relation to the end of the freight car,

a push bar pivoted to the stanchion a substantial dis-' tance from the boom and extending generally parallel to it towardthe end of the boom w-ith thereleasable connectingmeansito oppose the end of the freight car, the

j extending up from the stanchion substantially above the level of the push bars pivot with the stanchion, a' guide 20 V on the brace substantially above the pivot between the push bar and the stanchion, a flexible member connected, at one end, to the hand brake, and, at its other end, to the push bar at a point remote from the push bars pivot toward the outer end of the push bar, the flexible member passing over the guide, and means disposed on said last recited end of the boom adapted to receive a force to impart a movement to raise or lower said boom.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES :PATEFFI'S 1,475,552 Peterson" Nov; 27, 1923 1,749,806 Fisher Y Mar. 11, 1930 2,370,528 Fontaine Feb. 27, 1945 2,371,659 Stultz. Mar. 20, 1945 2,443,930 Pr'illiman June 22, 1948 2,443,931 Stultz June 22, 1948 2,633,892 Graham Apr. 7, 195?, 2,717,020 Dobias Sept. 6, 1955 27,772,794 Cramer et al, Dec. 4, 1956 

